Tired of crime, Liberty City group seeks solutions door-to-door

Volunteers went to Liberty City as part of the `Zero Tolerance Zone' initiative, which aims to cut down on crime and find out what residents need.
BY JENNIFER LEBOVICH
JLEBOVICH@MIAMIHERALD.COM
As she walked along Northwest 58th Terrace in Liberty City Tuesday night, Elaine Black heard a range of concerns and needs from residents.
Cedrick Akra, 31, wanted more activities for kids. Shantrice Shipman, too, was worried for the youth and about the quality of education. Down the street, Courtney Cooper told Black she felt safe only when she was inside her home.
Black, the president of Liberty City Trust, and volunteers with other organizations, fanned out around Liberty City on Tuesday night to talk to residents about reporting crime and to complete surveys -- getting basic information about their households and asking residents what kinds of crime they see, whether they feel safe at home and what concerns they have.
The goal was to knock on about 100 doors on four streets, give residents cards to report crime and survey residents about crime and changes they would like to see.
Organizers said the initiative was spurred by a drive-by shooting at the end of May that injured two boys, ages 4 and 9, as they played basketball at 1231 NW 58th Ter.
A string of shootings in the inner city followed.
In July, a stray bullet killed 17-year-old Lexsis Ray in a drive-by as she walked in Little Haiti. Days later, in Liberty Square, a toddler was struck in the foot by a stray bullet and her uncle, the shooter's target, was critically injured.
Even the church where the group met, Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church, has been victimized. Last summer, members were robbed at gunpoint and days later the church was burglarized.
Black described the initiative as a neighborhood crime watch and said teams will go out every few months to hand out materials. ``We're tired of all this going on in the community,'' said Black, whose organization works to revitalize Liberty City. ``When the community takes control by reporting crime, our neighborhood becomes safer.''
Tuesday night, volunteers covered several blocks in Liberty City -- from Northwest 12th to 15th avenues between Northwest 58th Terrace and 62nd Street.
The teams passed out HotSpot cards, prepaid postage cards that allow residents to anonymously report crime, and asked people about their concerns.
The cards have been distributed around the county, and hundreds have been returned from Liberty City alone, said Nathaniel Wilcox, executive director of People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality.
At the three-story beige and light brown apartment building on 58th Terrace, Black and Chris Manson, a member of the church, got a mixed reception.
One couple agree to take the HotSpot card, but they were skeptical that tipsters would remain anonymous. Another woman didn't want to open her door.
Courtney Cooper, 35, was comforted to see Black and others going door to door, saying that maybe it would get people ``more involved to call the police when something happens, instead of acting like because it's not me I have nothing to do with it. They want to do something about crime, trying to make it better.''
In her nearby apartment, Shantrice Shipman, 25, said she is concerned about schools in the area and the quality of education children are getting.
``Maybe it will help people to report crime,'' she said of the effort.
Miami police Maj. Keith Cunningham said they're asking residents to report crimes of any kind, whether it's a man walking down the street smoking marijuana or someone breaking into a home.
To get more people involved ``we need to do it block by block, brick by brick,'' he said.

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